Answer this question with using one reference within the past 5 years (preferably a nursing article):
Given the power of the media, discuss how you would use an opinion editorial, a personal interview, websites, texting, Facebook, Twitter, and/or blogs to influence public opinion relative to your policy priority. What concerns about media and electronic social networking do you need to consider? Why?
This is an example of what to write::: do not copy only use as a guide:::
Technology has been gradually changing the mobilization of public opinion especially if it has something to do with the political agenda. It has widened the sphere of its influence not only in policymaking but also in the entire institution and the public. Thus, we see how media plays an important role in public opinion in many ways. In today’s world, everyone relies on media for information to go ahead through daily activities. Media makes people aware of all the things happening in the world. Newspaper, books, television are these are very influential in our day to day life.
In the era of the technology and internet, the relationship between organizations and public opinion has been influenced by new media. This includes online newspapers, blogs, and social media. More people prefer new media over traditional media because of the limitations of traditional media, such as time limitation and space limitation. For people with a cell phone or computer, news can be obtained at any time in any location. As a result, new media has a greater impact on people.
Politicians have also noticed media is a more effective way to convey their message, and have begun to use it to attract supporters. For example, both Barack Obama and the White House have a Facebook page and a Twitter account. They can easily communicate with the public and gather them together, which can benefit their political activities. On the other hand, innovative media platforms have been draw public opinion to focus on the wrongdoings of the government. Since new media has a large user base, political activity is followed by more people than before.
New media lets people better supervise government behavior. Additionally, governments can know public opinion through new media as a reference for decision making. Although new media has both positive and negative effects on politics, it narrows the relationship between the public and politicians. The public is no longer solely a recipient of information. Through new technology, people can give their advice and opinions to the government.
Given the power and variety of media in today’s society, we could definitely influence public opinion relative to policy priority by spreading awareness about the policy. This could be carried on with the varieties of media that are available and suitable in advertising, informing, and spreading awareness. In fact, television, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram are the most common and convenient media ways of influencing public opinion. Barry Fields of the University of Southern Queensland said that television, in particular, is our major source of information today and has become a part of us and part of our family life.
However, some experts warned the public about the dark side of these media platforms which subject to the reliability and credibility of the content. The role of the media in shaping public perceptions and opinions about significant political and social issues has long been the subject of much speculation and debate (Maeroff, 1998; Spitzer, 1993; Wilson & Wilson, 2001; Wimmer and Dominick, 1991). There are some researchers claiming that not all the content intended to influence public opinion especially if it has something to do with the policy is legit or reliable. Some of the contents might fake or worst just a form of cyber-terrorist attack. These are some of the concerns which highly condemned by some political and interest groups putting their good initiatives into wrong and misleading information caused by these electronic social networking media platforms.
Sources:
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/11039769.pdf
https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2020/10/socialmedia_expert.html
https://news.ku.edu/2018/09/13/study-shows-how-media-influence-public-individual-opinions-varies-country-factors
